Chapter 53: Forest Wave: First ⓪ – The Crab’s Story
The mitten crab—Puamanclub—spoke.
“This tea is a favorite of mine. I hope it suits your taste.”
“Sorry for dropping by so suddenly.”
“No, no, you’re always welcome.”
He laughed while his crab head’s legs and pincers writhed. Such a strong visual.
“Thank you.”
“So, what brings you here?”
“I’ll be direct. I have to go to the Forbidden Land of the Heizen Great Forest due to a designated request.”
“…A request?”
The crab’s eyes twitched.
A designated request is private, so he wouldn’t know about it.
“Is it true that you’ll be cursed if you enter the Forbidden Land?”
“—It’s true. My daughter is still suffering under the curse. You should know that.”
“Yes. Um, did your daughter enter the Forbidden Land?”
“…The one who entered… was me.”
“Then why is your daughter…”
“Wof-kun. Why must you enter that land?”
“—There is something there that I must subjugate.”
When I said that, Puamanclub moved his head restlessly as if agitated.
Such an overwhelmingly strong visual. Please stop that during serious scenes.
“You… know, don’t you?”
“That depends on what you’re referring to.”
“That the land of Heizen…”
“Is a dungeon?”
“As I thought! You knew…”
So Puamanclub knows too.
“Could it be that the heads of the Three Great Houses know about this?”
“No. The Zensera family probably doesn’t know. Originally, this was information only the Jinryuu family possessed.”
“The Jinryu family?”
“That family are the guardians… the watchmen of Heizen. That’s what they exist for.”
Guardians. With those watchmen in that state, it’s all over.
“Why does the Gourou family know the Jinryuu family’s information?”
“…I bought the information from Laada.”
This time I twitched.
Calm down. He’s being honest with me.
“Laada is dead.”
“You were the one carrying her body. I thought the witch would sell it at the auction.”
“Would it sell?”
“With that level of beauty. It would have sold.”
That’s true, I suppose.
“That aside, why did you enter the Forbidden Land?”
“—The Jinryuu family was wavering on the verge of collapse. The opportunistic Zensera family sought to take action. With the other two houses in such a state, when I learned Heizen’s secret from Laada’s information, I thought I could bring this land under my control. But I lacked the power. No, looking back now, I could have handled it better. I should have been more discreet. But at that time, I greedily desired power alone. That was probably an EVENT. I wasn’t myself then. The deepest part of Heizen’s dungeon. If it’s the Forbidden Land, there is power. When I came to my senses, I had broken the seal that was placed on the Forbidden Land, and as compensation, my daughter was cursed.”
So what was sealed was the dungeon anomaly.
“Was it a lie that you’d be cursed for entering?”
“Yes. It was a lie. Selfish, but a lie to protect the Gourou family.”
“…Then your true aim wasn’t the ‘Wounded One’?”
Puamanclub looked straight at me.
Crab eyes… I can’t tell what he’s thinking, which is eerie.
“It’s my responsibility. While lifting the curse is part of it, I must settle this matter myself.”
“Subjugating the dungeon anomaly is my job.”
“So it’s a designated request. You know something that only I and a few others know. I’d like to know who this client is.”
“The will of Heizen’s dungeon.”
There’s no need to hide it. Besides, he has a right to know.
“The will. The will of Heizen, huh. So it really existed—or rather, of course it does, since it’s a dungeon.”
“It said that EVENTs have been occurring frequently due to the dungeon anomaly.”
“As I thought. I’ll take responsibility for that. I’ll participate in this Forest Wave as well.”
I sensed it. This crab intends to die.
Certainly, he can’t be called innocent. I can’t deny that this result came from his ambition.
But can dying truly be called taking responsibility?
Besides, not everything is this crab’s fault.
The fact that this Heizen is a dungeon and the EVENTs are also factors.
Was he manipulated by rules and systems?
“If you’re going to take responsibility, please live and develop this city.”
Before I knew it, I had said such a thing.
Puamanclub was surprised. His pincers opened wide.
“…But I…”
“Do you intend to push everything onto Seiran-san and the next head?”
“I have no such intention.”
“Then please live and devote yourself to Heisen.”
Even I realize I’m saying something outrageous.
My opponent is a crab—or rather, his head is a mitten crab—but he’s the head of one of Heizen’s two great powers, the Gourou family.
Puamanclub fell silent.
I waited. I kept waiting.
Whether it was long or short.
Puamanclub broke the silence.
“You’re right. As you say. Even if I must live in shame, I should devote myself to this Heizen as long as I live. I don’t think that will be atonement. I don’t seek salvation either. I will bear this sin until I die. Thank you. You made me realize what I truly should do.”
“I will resolve the dungeon anomaly.”
“I’m counting on you. And there’s someone I must introduce to you.”
“Who?”
“The man with the mirror face.”
“…Mirror surface…”
I had passed him at the moving palace.
He had an unusual presence, both in appearance and aura.
Puamanclub rang a call bell.
Who appeared was an elf man wearing a monocle.
I believe he was from the Gourou subjugation squad… Araya, was it?
“You called?”
“Bring Mirrorface here.”
“As you wish.”
Araya glanced at me before leaving the room.
“Um, sorry for saying such presumptuous things.”
“No, no, a young person’s words certainly resonated. Adults sometimes unknowingly misuse their lives. I’m grateful you made me realize that.”
“…I’m honored.”
Misusing one’s life—I’ll remember that. It’s not someone else’s problem.
I sometimes make mistakes too.
After a while, Araya-san brought Mirrorface.
I set down my cup of cold tea.
The man with the mirror face. He’s tall. Probably around 180cm.
The mirror face—it’s not that his entire face is a mirror.
He was wearing a special helmet with an oval mirror surface.
I’ve seen something like that in movies from my memories of previous lives.
He reflected me in the mirror surface, then the mitten crab.
“You called?”
“Ah, Mirrorface. This is Wof-kun.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Wof… I’ve heard rumors about you at Coonhunt.”
Well, they probably weren’t good rumors.
“Is that so?”
“So, what do you want?”
“He knows everything.”
“You told him?”
“No. He’s been requested to defeat this dungeon anomaly.”
“Requested?”
“…The will of Heizen’s dungeon that saved you.”
Saved him?
“The will… chose Wof?”
“I was requested.”
“Mirrorface. Remove that face for him.”
“Is that alright?”
“It doesn’t matter. He knows everything.”
Mirrorface sighed and removed the mirror face.
A sharp young man’s face appeared. Black hair mixed with red. Small black horns. A faun?
There was a painful diagonal slash wound in the center of his face.
He had a rough, dignified, powerful air about him.
Who?
“He is…”
“Yes. Galado.”
Who?